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Educators Conference Focuses On Instructional Techniques

By Ginger L. Britt, Licensing and Education Officer

On February 28 and March 1 the Commission’s 2002 Educators Conference provided a forum for  prelicense and CE instructors, school directors, CE sponsors, community college administrators, and publishers to learn more about current education and license law issues.   Everyone was welcomed to the SouthPark Suite Hotel in Charlotte on Thursday morning by the Director of Education and Licensing, Larry A. Outlaw,  who discussed general education issues.

Ginger L. Britt, Licensing and Education Officer, discussed the schools’ obligation  to provide quality education to students attempting to qualify and prepare for license examinations.  Ms. Britt reminded instructors of rule changes that hold approved instructors personally accountable for examination performance.  Previously, instructors were approved in connection with schools.  Ms. Britt also addressed renewal of instructor approval and the new instructor CE requirement that is in addition to an instructor’s individual license CE requirement.  Attendees were cautioned to comply with course prerequisites and rules regarding instruction and examination security.  Ms. Britt closed with an update of staff’s reviews of videotapes submitted in connection with instructor applications and an overview of the Commission’s New Instructor Seminar (NIS). The NIS is an orientation conducted by Ms. Britt and Vicki Ferneyhough, DREI, that provides training on teaching techniques, materials, available resources,  and discussion on rules and license application procedures. Intended for newly approved prelicense instructors, it is also available to previously approved instructors based upon space availability and is provided at no cost to attendees.

Anita Burt, Education and Examination Officer reported on the license examination program, including school and instructor examination performance.  Ms. Burt also reported that 95% of license applicants are taking the license examination by computer through Psychological Services, Inc. (PSI).

Vicki Ferneyhough, DREI, and Bill Gallagher, DREI, livened up the conference with a humorous presentation entitled How to Cure Insomnia in 67 Hours or Less that demonstrated undesirable techniques.  Newly approved instructors Anjie Grady and Steven A. Parsons demonstrated more desirable methods. The session concluded with a discussion of the most common mistakes made by instructors.

Pamela R.  Rorie, CE Officer, addressed issues of particular importance to CE sponsors and instructors.  Ms. Rorie gave attendees an overview of the CE program over the years and discussed the changes. One recent innovation is the new system of electronic reporting of course completion information.  Further changes were explained and discussed.  Ms. Rorie focused on the proposed topics for the 2002-2003 Update Course.  Instructors in attendance provided their views on the topics. Ms. Rorie closed with a reminder regarding renewal deadlines.

Emmet R. Wood, Director of Audits and Investigations, related events of cases of trust account mismanagement in his presentation entitled They Should’ve Counted on an Audit.  Mr. Wood acknowledged that his investigations sometimes prove facts stranger than fiction.  This concept was further supported when Pamela V. Millward, Associate Legal Counsel, discussed case histories surrounding license applications in which applicants should have chosen truth rather than consequences during her session of Truth or Dare (to be Denied a License).

The Commission  hosted a buffet luncheon during which the North Carolina Real Estate Educators’ Association (NCREEA) held a chapter meeting and selected new officers.  NCREEA presented awards of special recognition.  Tim R. Terry was named “N.C. Educator of the Year.”   “Program of the Year” went to Bill Gallagher for his CE elective course entitled, REALTOR® Ethics.  The election determined that Sandy Williams will follow Deborah Carpenter as president-elect when Ms. Carpenter accepts the presidency from Kimberly D. Stotesbury.   Linda Adams remains secretary/treasurer while Bill Gallagher, Sandra Martin, and Mark Brothers were elected as directors

This year’s conference attendance exceeded 150. Assisting with registration were Commission staff members Penny Childress and Wanda Johnson.

This article came from the June 2002-Vol33-1 edition of the bulletin.